Prelude

Farewell to Ireland.

2010-10-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

Actually I'm not leaving Ireland. In fact, I've never been to Ireland. I was just listening to a song called "Farewell to Ireland". *shrug* No particular reason.
Ok anyway. The time has come to lay this blog to rest,
*gunshot*
*thud*
and move on to the next horizon. Well, the next blog, at least. In one weeks time, (October 15th) I will post my first blog on my main blog, found in the link. (Over here somewhere)--->
The blog will follow me through New York, London, and Uganda. I'll be updating it as regularly as I can, but I'm not sure if I'll have internet right away. We'll see. :]
*starts digging a grave*
So if you're interested in following my activity in Uganda and such, keep up to date with my main blog.
*throws the first blog into the grave*
Otherwise you might get bored, because I wont be touching this blog anymore.
*starts filling the hole* (Filling, as in to fill something. Not filing, as in file. Very, very different)
I hope you've enjoyed all the posts so far. I apologize to all my friends that I have not kept in touch with well enough. Forgive me, as I have been busy looking for food. And napping. I find time to update the blog by sleeptyping. Thats why you can't really blame me for what is on these posts. I'm actually asleep. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. See?

Ok that was stupid, I know. Sorry. Anyways, time to lay this blog to rest. Farewell, sweet friend. I've benefited from you greatly, and I hope that the next blog can shine as brightly as you have.
(is it odd that I am feeling sad that I am moving blogs now??)
Send me an email for requests, comments, questions, complaints, or food. Or just post a comment, no matter really!

*Puts up a tombstone that reads as follows*
"Prelude to Africa, a friend, and believer, and an inanimate digital form."

"Farewell, allies and enemies alike. I'll see you at the end of it all."

A New Song

2010-10-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

(Today, we have a special guest, Rovert the inter-dimensional version of Trevor! He will be acting as a narrator and friend!)
You know, for years now I've played guitar, and I have not gotten any better at it. (He isn't kidding.) Meh, no biggie really. Still, you would think that after a while I would be able to get the hang of it a bit better than I do now. Anypoo, thats not the point. Let me tell you a little story. You ready? Grab your hot cocoa and snuggie, and sit your butt down.(Gasp! He said butt!)
A bud told me of an old instrument that he had, and how he had gotten back into it. He also asked me if I had any interest in the little mini one he had given me a while back. I did, but I had lost it. (great way to treat a gift, huh?) He seemed so excited about it, that I just had to give a whack at it again.
"Alright," I thought, "I can find it again and give it a try."
So, after a bit, it was found. (His little brother found it. Bribery pays.) However, It had a chipped up paint job. So I decided to to whittle away the busted up part, and get this little instrument back to looking great. So I did. After hours of working with my knife, the clouds opened up and the sun shone brightly on my life as I completed the work! I cleaned up the mess, and proudly toted the instrument around. That night, I lay down to rest till the morning. Alas, morning came, but not to the peaceful serenity of the whispers of my new friend, but rather to the heartbreaking stab of shattering. Yes, the death of my new found friend was inevitable as he fell from his perch early in the new day. Thus, his shards scattered themselves thoroughly across my floor, and my hopes for him followed close behind.

In other words, it slipped out of my pocket when I rolled over and smashed against the floor and I was sad.
That is the story of my first Ocarina, the newest addition of my heart. Its gone now, but there is a happy ending to this tale. You see, once that happened, I emailed the above mentioned bud about the situation. I told him to stop expecting to hear of my experiences, due to the fact that I broke it. He later emailed me and told me he had bought me a gift package of Ocarinas, and that it was on its way! Woot!
It was a little late to convince him not to do it. They were bought and shipped, and now I have them. A note explained:
"Hope you like. Maybe it will give you something to do in Africa if boredom creeps up! Oh, yeah, and I hope they don't break."
So, thanks, bud! I'll enjoy them every day!

Who ever knows what an Ocarina is, raise thy hand. No one, really? Hey, you don't count, you googled it. Well I'll go ahead and introduce you to my new little family members so you can have a chance to get to know them! (Getting creepy yet?)
Oi. Well it seems as thought the picture part isn't working at this time. So for now, go to my flickr page and click on my 'Ocarina' collection. There you'll find my dear little ones.
(seriously now. Getting creepy.)

Things I will and will not miss

2010-09-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Holy snapple. Its windy today. The past couple days, really. Anypoo. This post, I'll blog about the different things I'm going to miss when I head to Africa, and of course the things that I will not miss. Where should I start?

LIST TIME! I love lists. They're great. Unless its a list of things to do. I hate those.
Things I'll miss/notmiss, version 1.0! (FYI, I'm not going to mention the normal things like family and such, because that is a given. So if I didnt mention you, dont get all fisticuffs with me)

I'll miss: Watching t.v. on the living room floor at moms feet while she sits on the couch. Its my spot.
I wont miss: That one board of the fence that I painted the wrong color. Stupid thing.
I'll miss: The cooler weather. I prefer coolerness.
I wont miss: The 'im stupid' feeling you get when you realize you forgot your lunch at the front door while you're out in service.
I'll miss: Going down my walkway to my front door, and jumping over the bushes onto the porch.
I wont miss: The 'Alaskan winter sun' that is always RIGHT in my eyes when driving to service early in the morning.
I'll miss: My Futon.
I wont miss: My feather down blanket that spreads 1000 feathers across my room every morning.
I'll miss: Running up/down the stairs at mach 4.
I wont miss: Tripping on said stairs at said speed.
I'll miss: The sound of opening our fridge. Its a heavenly noise.
I wont miss: The sound of mom saying 'dont stand there with the fridge open."
I'll miss: Driving on a warm summer day with the windows rolled down.
I wont miss: The breakup season.
I'll miss: Getting texts from random people and not knowing who they are.
I wont miss: Meeting someone who knows me but I dont know them.
I'll miss: The 'my hometown' feeling.
I wont miss: The 'my hometown' feeling.
I'll miss: Nina.
I wont miss: Getting things thrown at me. (See above person)
I'll miss: The Alaskan autumn. Suuuuuuuuuuuch a perfect season to me.
I wont miss: The darkness. Darky, blackness, dark.
I'll miss: Not sweating all the time.
I wont miss: Scaring people with the pure flash of white when I take off my shirt.
I'll miss: My friends.
I wont miss: Twilight.
I'll miss: My family.
I wont miss: My family when I want to sleep in.
I'll miss: Checking the mail. I love the walk from my house to the box.
I wont miss: My crazy neighbors. Freaks.
I'll miss: Energy drinks.
I wont miss: Expensive coffees. They cost too much.
I'll miss: Being very, very comfortable in my congregation.
I wont miss: Work. :]
I'll miss: Paychecks. :[
I wont miss: The sinking feeling that I'm wasting my life doing something anyone could accomplish. (long story, poorly explained)
I'll miss: Direct, helpful guidance from people I thoroughly trust.
I wont miss: The 'Trevyboy' syndrome. (Long story)
I'll miss: My Guitar.
I wont miss: Stubbing my toe on my futon.
I'll miss: The smell of my room.
I wont miss: Justin Beiber.
I'll miss: Singing loudly in the car. (when alone)
I wont miss: When I accidentally buttdial someone while I'm singing loudly in the car.
I'll miss: My sister's sense of style.
I wont miss: That mysteriously nasteyjunk smell in my car.
I'll miss: Mountain Dew.
I wont miss: Homesickness.
I'll miss: My dog, Allie.
I wont miss: Breaking a string on my guitar. Such a tragic, heartbreaking moment.

Well that's it for this version. If it comes to me, or I care enough, I might add another. So, what do you think? What should my next post be about? I'm out of ideas for the moment...
Comments?

Request, Matt

2010-09-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Alright, so my good pal Matt dropped a request. Hopefully I can answer sufficiently. Here is what Matt has to ask of me.
"Of all the things that you are going to learn in this experience, what do you hope to walk away with. ( thats not a question, due to the lack of '?', but no biggie. :] )
Also, what do you think you will be able to contribute while there?"
Um. Let me think about this.

Life seems to throw a lot at us, but our minds are designed to grow and mature from our experiences. Awesome and all, right? Imagine a time where we dont actually die of old age, but instead carry the knowledge and understanding we got from our life a little bit further. (farther?) Where all of the pressures and heat that refine us are actually kept and put to use beyond 100 years or so. (And 100 is being generous) Until that time, I hope that whatever refining that I might get dumped on me might be put to use. My time abroad so far has really molded me, but I have always gone to countries and places that are well provided for, and prosperous. (Well, I went to D.R., but I have only vague memories of that) So I am hoping that I can walk away with a totally different mentality and perspective on life. That is kind of a blanket statement, so specifically I mean...well...I want to...um. Ok this is harder to put to words than I think. Pushup time!
(Huff, huff, huff)
Ok, I didnt actually do any. But I did think of a way to put it into words.

Random side point first. I made this video purely for the fun of it. Its just me on a walk through the woods and around some streets. Check it out if you find this post boring!

Continuing:
Allow me put it this way.
Some people walk through the cities, and their biggest concern is that their latte isn't done quite the way they like. (Breve is smoother, made with half and half. Mmmm) Some people look at the clothes you wear, and instantly come to a judgment of who you are based solely on the clothes you wear. Sure, they give a good talk about how horrible it is to know that people suffer in third world countries, but how do they really know? In between sentences they are texting about going to the next party, and planning what they are going to buy so they can dress to impress. It all seems to be nothing but a HUGE distraction.
Sure, dressing nice, being clean, and social lives are important, and keeping up with the times to a degree is totally fine and acceptable to me, but its the focus of some people. Its sad to see how upset some get about little things that others might not ever notice. Why? Two types of people. (Super basic, obviously, because I dont want to look like I am judging people. Its just a list of characteristics that some might display is all)
1, people who see the mundane things as all powerful,
and 2, those that have bigger problems to deal with.
For 2, the color of someone's car is the last thing on their minds. The size of 1's house doesnt mean anything. And those name brand shoes that 1 so desperately seeks, 2 hasn't even heard of them.

So, a wider perspective. Thats the best I can put it. It might not sounds like a lot, but perspective is a HUGE aspect of life. Perspective alone can shape the lives of anyone. So many people seek a new perspective, and it can change their whole being, inside and out. Perspective has brought about life changing advancement, and savage brutality. Perspective, in its simplicity, is ever so complex, and it makes up the person of the heart. And the great thing is, if we are looking for the right kind of perspective, we can never gain all the perspectives out there. Mmmm. Tasty goodness in thought form.

RANDOM PICTURE TIME! (I <3 Autumn)---Get it? Its a heart, on a fallen leaf!

As for the second part of your question, I have no idea. I suppose I am just going to give it my all in every way. To be honestly able to say that emotionally, mentally, and physically I gave my all to support and assist those that I meet in Africa. And for kicks, make a few friends along the way! Who knows, this may become my home. Maybe not, I dont know yet. Whatever comes, I'm ready to experience it and see just how NOT ready I really was. But the way I see it, thats where things are kept interesting!

I hope that answers your request, Matt. :] If not, well too bad, drop another comment and I'll see what I can do. Brotherly Love the whole way!

Thank you once again, one and all. May thy travels be vast and quick, and thy winds bear you favorably.

Trevor B~

Long time no write

2010-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Wow. Two weeks later, here I am. Hehe, I havent really written in a while, have I? Ok, let me update a few things.

September 1st is a big day. Why is that?
September 1st marks 3 things.
1. I have been Pioneering for 6 continual years, and now I am in my 7th year. (M.S. for 5 years)
2. My bud since youth, Jace Shaffer, starts out his life as a Pioneer today.
3. It now marks 6 weeks until I leave for Uganda.

That may seem like something little, but really its a nostalgic day. Listening to tunes from the past on Pandora and looking around at the things I will be leaving aid to a slightly depressing, reflective, and confusing day. Couple that with having just talked to one of the longtime sisters in my hall (In her 90's) as she told stories of the beginning of the work on the Kenai Peninsula, thus making me realize just how far we have come in Alaska alone, and how far we will go in our lives if we allow Jehovah's spirit to move us. Whew. What a day.

I never understand what this emotion I have right now is. Its a mix of sad, happy, worried, stressed, excited, longing, and ready. "Yellow" by Coldplay just came on, and that brings back a lot of memories from Bethel. My Coordinator used to dance like the lead singer from Coldplay, singing along to all the songs he knew. He was a hyper guy, come to think of it. I would sing the chorus (its all I knew) when it came up just so he wouldn't feel bad. He loved it, and it usually made my day.

I just got back from the District convention. "Remain Close to Jehovah." Only Jehovah knows how much I needed that...my goodness it was perfect timing. To see him literally reach down and give me exactly what I need is almost frightening, to be honest. I also had a chance to meet so many of the friends I missed since NY, and I made so many more friends than I already have. All ages, all backgrounds, all with that same love for Jehovah. You really leave me speechless sometimes, Jehovah...

Tips and tricks

2010-08-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Straight from the pros themselves, here is the lowdown of different tips and tricks that should help anyone that wants to share in a place like Uganda.

Street-smarts are a good thing to have when in Kampala. The government is corrupt, and the people can be desperate due to poverty. The thinking process is simple. White=rich.

"Hi, I'm an oblivious white guy with money!"

That makes you (Caucasians) a target. And target you they will. So things like backpacks can really put you in a bind if you're not careful. It fact, its a bad idea to walk around with something valuable in a backpack. An effective and favorite way to rob someone is to slice open the bottom of a backpack or bag while it’s being carried. Then, of course, everything drops to the ground and its easy pickings. If you have things like a camera, a phone or a wallet, or a laptop (etc) in there, then they are officially gone. Be alert. (TARGET--->)

Your wallet should be in a belt that sits under your shirt. Wallets in back pockets are kind of an invitation, especially in a white guy like me. Flashing around a chuck of money is a bad idea too. Have some 'ready-cash' is a side pocket to pay for things like bus tickets, taxi fares, etc etc.

Mobile phones? Avoid using those in crowded areas. You know how easy it is to grab something out of someone's hand while they are distracted? Very easy. I mean, I have never tried it, but I would only assume that it is easy. *shrug*

Don’t put bags down on the ground if you’re standing on a road or street. Also an easy invite. You’ll eventually and naturally get into a certain mind-set after a while and will know when to be cautious and when you can let your guard down a little.

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

The Ugandan’s are super friendly, and generally very open and kind. But before you go getting all in their face with a good chatting session, stop and realize it’s good not to give away too much information. And ff you want to take a picture, just be discreet about it and put your camera back safe somewhere.

Keep in mind that you will be doing LOTS of walking, so You will want good walking shoes or nice summer-weight hiking boots. Similarly, You will want clothes that are light weight. Oh, and easy to wash. Drying quickly doesnt hurt either. Along those lines, there is a lot of red clay around Fort Portal, so you will want slacks that don’t show dirt easily.
There is still a good amount of things that I was told, but it is very specific to my circumstances, so unless you're really looking for that sort of thing I wont post it. If you are, however, drop me an email and let me know what you would like to know. If I know, I'll tell you, if I dont, I'll try and find out.

Oh, and one last thing,

Bring deodorant for the whole trip. It is not available there in the country.

"Always standing after a fall, always braving the worst of storms. See you at the top."

~Trevor B

What do I need to do to prepare for Uganda? Part 2

2010-08-11T21:57:00.000-07:00


Featuring LaurenBerk's photos from Flickr.com

Round two, people. Now we tackle the Ticket realm. Tickets will be one of the highest expenses, so expect them to put a bite into your wallet. There are, however, a few tricks to defeating this beast. Grit those teeth, it might get rough in here. (Look, an African tree!)

I am not the best at finding tickets, but with some helpful suggestions and support, I did just fine. First recommendation, miles. Airline miles, that is. After you rack up a few thousand Airline miles, you can get a free ticket. I use Alaska Airlines, (makes sense, seeings how I am from Alaska) and I got a free ticket from Alaska to NY. (Insider tip, you can borrow miles from other people, and combine them to yours! Ask your friends!) So that saved me a couple hundred $$'s. Then, the ticket from NY to Uganda cost me about $1,200-$1,300. But even if you find a price around there, KEEP LOOKING. For reasons that man has yet to fully comprehend, ticket prices change drastically. The cost dropped a few hundred a few days after I bought my tickets! So don't be afraid to take your time looking. Go all over the net, talk to friends, talk to travel agencies, so on and so forth. Now, it might seem like a lot of effort, but if you are dedicated to it, you can literally save hundreds of dollars, money that can go towards food, transportation, rent, etc. And in Uganda, even $20 can go substantially farther(further?) than it could in the USA. Search, search, search!
Now, a word of caution. Lets say you find a really good deal, but you say to yourself: "No, I can get better! I'll just wait another day or so!" Easy, buddy. Thats where you can get yourself into a deep depression by watching your good deal slide by and escape. So while sometimes it can be very helpful to sit back and give it some time for that perfect deal to come a long, once it is here, dont let it go! Its a double edged blade, really.

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

Alright, mindset time. *pops knuckles*
For some reason, mankind has struggled with a foe that puts up a fight so severe that many have never seen the flag of victory. Who is this foe? Themselves.
"What?!"
"That makes no sense."
"Trevor, You're confusing me."
"What?"

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

I know, I know, hear me out. People's minds can lead them astray and crush their hope and ambition like a plump, juicy grape. (mmm) So, I hate to say it, but it still happens, even today. And it can happen to just about anyone, with anything. Determined to rock a lecture you have to give for school/work/etc? What happens the tragic moment that you notice that no one seems to be paying attention and that your jokes are falling flat on the floor? You panic, and you start to fumble! Suddenly all of the confidence and zeal you had begins to deflate. Now you are a sweating, shaking, and visibly nervous rag-doll up on the podium. Your mindset turns against you, and you bring about your own downfall. Yep, it happens. And it can do so in just about anything in life. So there is a certain mindset that you have to get into in order to really get the most out of your experience if you are going to Uganda. Otherwise you can find your greatest foe to be yourself. Here are a few suggestions.

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

1. Remember, this is a third world country. Poverty is strong and relentless. The people will have such a different living standard than you are used to, and it can shock/disturb those that were not prepared for it. Even if you think you've prepared yourself, you haven't. Expect less, never more. You'll be more prepared than ever before if you set your mind low and work your way up as you go. Some houses are literally 4 metal sheets for walls and a metal sheet for a roof. Oh, and a curtain for the main doorway.

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

2. Throw away everything you're expecting. One friend in Uganda told me that he thought he had a really good idea of what it would be like, but once he got there it was completely different. He had a huge learning curve to battle. Everything he thought it would be was wrong, and he had to fight off the old mindset and readjust. So basically, open up your mind and roll with the punches. As soon as something disturbing comes up, accept it as normal and mentally move past it. DONT.FOCUS.ON.IT.

3. Even when it hurts, grit your teeth and clinch your fists. A the moment, a difficulty seems overwhelming, but if you fight through it and refuse to let yourself get into a funk, then you'll look back on your adventure with pride and confidence that you have what it takes to come off the victor.

4. Find joy and awesomeness in the simple, little things in life. If you are expecting everyday to be a huge, mind blowing adventure, you are going to be disappointing. Learn to love what most people overlook, and when you are back home you will have a far greater appreciation of your experience.

Alright, that about wraps up this post. Next time, I am going to include tips on what to do, bring, expect, all coming from the experts that have lived there for years. *Poke* (comment), rate, or email me for requests, questions, complaints, food. You know, the normal stuff. :]

LaurenBerk, Flickr.com

Ps. Don't be afraid of taking naps. They rock.

~Trevor B

What do I need to do in order to prepare for Uganda?

2010-08-08T22:47:00.000-07:00

Alright, this time I am going to talk about the different types of preparations that it takes for traveling to Uganda. Hopefully this helps out some for those that are thinking of going to Uganda, or just ones that are thinking of going anywhere in the needgreating field. This post is all about getting ready for Uganda, but it applies elsewhere.

Mine is good until 2016

1) Get your passport checked! If you cant go out of the country because your passport is expired, then you cant do anything! The last thing you want is to have to cancel tickets because you didnt know your passport was no good. It takes a few months to get a new passport, so make sure you check this long before you get a date for leaving.

2) Now you need to make sure that you have enough $money$, and find out how much it takes to stay in Uganda. It is a cruel world that depends on money, but in this system of things it is an evil we must use. For myself, I have a place for $220 a month (everything included) in the best part of Fort Portal, and then the food is also cheap, about the same as rent for a month. Internet costs $20 a month. Jobs pay up to nothing in Uganda, and they are hard to find as is, so its best to have money in pocket and live off of that. However, some brothers have internet jobs that allow them to make just enough to move to Fort Portal.
By the way, currently $.082=2,000 shillings. (the currency for Uganda is called Shillings)Yeah, so 45,000shillings is not really that much, even though it sounds like a lot. Anyways, as regards money, there are always a lot of unexpected fees and expenses, so always, always give yourself a lot of buffer when you are budgeting.

Pick your favorite color, little Timmy!

3) There are shots that you need to get at this point. Yellow fever and Hepatitis are two big ones, but you can find out the specifics by visiting a health center or making a few calls to the hospital or such. They have lists of the different things that you need in the different parts of the world. Sometimes there are places that can offer discounts for the reason that you are leaving, such as the ministry. Sometimes they even clear you of charges for the shots, but other times getting shots can be pricey. ($100 a shot sometimes) You have to do your own research. Especially with Hepatitis, there are different variables that you should ask about and decide for yourself what you are willing to take and what you are willing to leave out. Also ask them about when you start the shots (as sometimes it might be as soon as a month, or so I am told) As for Malaria, I was told that the pills you need are cheaper in Uganda and easy to get.

4) Now, lets move on to another area of the planning process, the visa. Lets say you arrive in Uganda. You can then purchase a tourist visa for about $50, and ask them to write it for 3 months. Then, after 3 months you can easily extend it for another $50 right in Fort Portal. Super easy, super cheap. I like the way that sounds.

5) What to wear? For field service, they wear short sleeved button up shirts (meeting shirts) and no tie. (AWESOME) The pants are normal, nice looking slacks that can take a lot of walking. I would not suggest an actual suit, as that might not take the punishment that the terrain would dish out. Breathable, too. Thats nice to consider. There is a lot of red clay, so lighter colored pants would show this very well. The shirt should be breathable as well, and not silky or delicate. Something that can take a little mud and dirt, but still looks nice. Shoes should be fit for walking, and some brothers have even used tennis shoes or other types of walking shoes. For the meetings, ties are used, but suit jackets are not too common. I was told that I didnt even need to bring a suit jacket if I didnt want to. To be honest, having a shirt that is not full of holes and frayed will make you better off than most of the people there anyways, so it is not something that you should worry about as regards 'fashion'. I was also suggested not to make it 'flashy'. Simple, clean, etc, etc.
For casual, dont worry too much about impressing them. Shorts are nice for relaxing, a sweater or something like it for night time, comfy shirts, etc etc.

6) Climate! According to the brothers that have served in Fort Portal for 3 1/2 years, the hottest it gets is about 82 degrees. Dry heat. So that means that you WILL sweat, but once you get into the shade, you will cool off. (Heads up, being a third world country, they do not have deodorant. BOTH you and them will stink) At night it gets to the low-mid 60s, so something like a sweater would be nice. When it rains, it pours. I am told that the climate is a nice, balanced blend of most elements, excluding extreme colds. (Shout out to my Alaskan kindred!)

7) Short bit about culture. Uganda is filled with people who are generally very, very nice. As a white person (or anything but black) you will stand out to the extreme. You will be the center of attention, and people will be very interested. That is something to get used to. Belief and interest in the bible is also very, very common, as most everyone has a belief in one way or another. The difference is that they are very logical and humble in their beliefs, and can easily see the faults with the false religious teachings(many times on their own). They may have been raised believing that Jesus is God, but once shown the bible's answer, they will laugh at their old beliefs and see the truth of God's word. They truly, honestly, and humbly yearn to learn more about the truth, and will go to great efforts to do so. For instance, when you get a call on the initial visit, many times you can expect them at the next meeting. Bible studies are like leaves on a tree because of the genuine interest that is found in their hearts.

Alright, I will continue to update different things that I have learned about getting ready for Uganda and such. Hopefully this will give us a good idea of what it is like to prepare for Uganda, Fort Portal area.

~Trevor B

Shout outs

2010-08-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

So, this really doesnt count as an official post, but its more like a halfpost. I wanted to thank most of the people that I can remember that have read my blog so far, even though I havent gotten to the real meat of it yet. So thanks, all you readers who have yet to abandon me, here is a drink to you! (Mountain Dew) *Sip* Thats some good Dew.

Blaine
Jen
Kim
Joanne
Zech
Jack
Matt
Bradley
Trevor (cheating)
Lacy
Kels
everyone else I forgot.

Feel free to leave comments or drop me an email. Suggestions or requests are appreciated, and I would do my best to fill a request. For instance, my Malaria post was requested, so I did a little research, and boom.
A few things that I am working on before going to Uganda:

Strengthen my back. They dont have backs to the chairs in the hall there, so I want to be used to that.
Trimming up and getting a regular exercise program to do every morning.
More of the mindset that I am going to a poverty stricken world, and that there are things more important than having that coffee or snack.
Getting more of an appreciation for the Bible and Teach book and to stop taking it for granted.
Inline with that, stop taking most of what I have for granted. Food, nice clothes, a nice bed, you know, the comforts.

Thanks for reading!
~Trevor B

Aaah! Its attacking!

(Random Picture!)

Wait, Malaria is bad, right?

2010-08-02T20:26:00.000-07:00


Africa seems to have the highest concentration of Malaria.

Symptoms:

Anemia- Alright, not good.
Chills- Eh, not too bad.
Coma- Wait, what? Seriously?
Convulsion- Oh snap...
Fever- I suppose I could do that...
Headache- Aspirin?
Jaundice- What? ( a yellowish discoloration of the skin) OH. Gross.
Muscle pain- Constantly, I assume.
Nausea- Shoot...
Stools, bloody- ...oh snap.
Sweating- And its hot, too.
Vomiting- Fluids! I need fluids!

Um. Gross.

So I did some research. Turns out, Malaria is caused by a parasite bug that is transmitted from one human to another by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Little punks. In a human, the parasites take off to the liver, where they grow up big and strong into another form, the merozoites. These then make themselves at home and enter the bloodstream and infect the red blood cells.
Once there, they do whatever it is they please, and multiply inside the red blood cells. Now, that may not seem like such a big deal, but once they get inside these cells, the cells dont like it one bit. They then rupture within 48 to 72 hours. If you hadn't known, that rupture infects more red blood cells. Don't think you're sick even after that little mosquito sucked on you? The first symptoms usually occur 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, though they can appear as early as 8 days or as long as a year after infection. Then the symptoms occur in cycles of 48 to 72 hours. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Thankfully, the outcome is expected to be good in most cases of malaria with treatment.

Here is a quote from Google Health. Hopefully, that is a legitimate source...
"Most people living in areas where malaria is common have acquired some immunity to the disease. Visitors will not have immunity, and should take preventive medications. It is important to see your health care provider well before your trip, because treatment may begin is long as 2 weeks before travel to the area, and continue for a month after you leave the area. The types of anti-malarial medications prescribed will depend on the area you visit."

I am working on these details. They seem rather important, you know? It doesnt seem like something that I should just let slide.
Alright, thanks again for reading. Questions, comments? Drop me an email or leave a comment. :D
~Trevor
"I dont like getting sick. One could say, I'm sick of it. Get it?"

Japan, too?

2010-08-01T23:23:00.000-07:00

むちゃでむぼうとわらわれようと、いじがささえのけんかみち！

Yep. After Africa, I am going to Japan to need great. I know what you're thinking:
"Why would he do that? They dont even need any help, right?"
"Huh? What are you talking about now?"
"Why would Trevor want to go to Japan to need great? Dont they have like, a million and a half publishers there?"
"Near 3 million, I heard!)

かべがあたっらなぐってこわす！

Most people dont seem to realize that Japan is an Island nation, and quite beautiful indeed. It has very diverse terrain.

Actually, about 221,000 publishers. Give or take. And they are doing quiet well, actually. So why would someone choose to go to Japan when they dont seem to have a great need? Well I am not going to Japan to help the Japanese field. I am going to Japan to help the English field.Therein lies the great need, according to the Japan Branch Office of Jehovah's Witnesses.

After writing the Japan Branch (through my congregation's service committee), I got a reply that gave me two different congregations near Tokyo that have a strong need. After a lot of praying about it, I chose one and wrote the C(oordinator)O(f the)B(ody of)E(lders) there, including my email address. After a while, he emailed me, and now we are working out the details. He gave me a brief overview of their congregation. 11 publishers, 2 elders, 1 ministerial servant, and 10 Pioneers. All native Japanese speakers other than one native English speaker.. Unfortunately, in August they are becoming an English group instead of an English congregation. They received this direction from the Branch office. Now, they have part of their meetings in Japanese, and part in English. Their field service, too, is a mix of the two languages. Once I arrive, I will have to prepare to give talks in both languages, and serve in the field ministry in both languages.
みちがなければこのてでつくる！
Jehovah has been blessing me in this, as well. It seems that everything that needs to happen to get the ball rolling just presents itself to me on a golden platter! Remember that perfect game of Tetris? It seems like it is at it again!
Anyway. I am focusing on Uganda, but while I have time I will be working out all the details of moving to Japan, like finding a job, finding a place to stay, choosing dates, etc. It has taken a few months to prepare for Uganda, but we also put sort of a rush on it. With as much time as I have now to prepare for Japan, it should be a lot easier! Well, I hope so. My main problem is money, to be honest. Uganda and Japan need greating adventures certainly take a lot of the green stuff. (Seeings how Japan is one of the most expensive places on earth) Oh well. The way I see it, money was made to be spent, so once I get the numbers up, I can blow them on furthering my service to Jehovah! Ah, good times. Better times to come, but still good times here.

Thus, you are now updated on a small aspect of my life. Here is a little 'trevortimeline' for your viewing pleasure!

Thus, I bid you all a temporary farewell. I'll update the blog with an 'Africa' related post next time! Thanks for reading!

おれをだれだとおもってやがる？！
"If no path exists to our destination, we will carve one out with our own hands!"

~Another much appreciated friend

あばよ、ね？

~Trevor

Too long, too long

2010-07-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, its true. I feel like its taking too long to leave. You see, last time I left Alaska, I wanted to leave because I was sick and tired of it. I hated waiting on every last little day to end. It turned out to be me just wanting an excuse to go to bed, just to get up and do it all over again. Then, Jehovah looked down at my useless life and slapped a blessing of unimaginable weight and significance on me. Bethel. I honestly believe that the best thing that I got from Bethel was perspective. It was that perspective that made me want to go to Gilead, and made me want to reach out for more. It transformed me. I cant even explain it with words. Tears in my eyes and everything, Bethel was...breathtaking. In so many ways. Because of a freedom that it gave me, I look at everything with new focus. Now, I love Alaska, and I dont have anymore bitterness to it. Now, I am happy being single and instead focusing on my service to Jehovah more. Marriage will come, sure, but I have much to do before I even want to consider trying to care for a family. I know that right now I would flop and fail as a husband, and I would hate to put my wife through that.

I mean come on! This is awesome!

Anyways, about Alaska. I have come to really love Alaska for what it is. Jehovah has created so many different types of beauty, and Alaska claims a lot of that. Its true that you take it for granted, but I have been able to get a better viewpoint on it. Now, when I leave for Africa, I think I will look back at my time in Alaska as a blessing. I will always consider little old Kenai as 'Home', no matter where I go. *sigh* It makes me sad to think about leaving my home.

Alaska, you will always be 'home' in my heart.

Nevertheless, the distant horizon is a goal that is set in my heart. Home will always be waiting for me to come back. For now, though, its time to set aside such a beautiful haven and stretch out to new skylines. Jehovah as my power, no horizon is unreachable, and no skyline is too far. Due only to his unwavering support and love, His servants are bound by no restrictions or weaknesses, but instead have power beyond what is normal to accomplish things that they never imagined they were capable of. Its time that Trevor finds a new home to call his haven, and I am sure that, if I remain faithful and true, Jehovah will follow me where ever I go in his service. So thanks to Jehovah for allowing me to stretch beyond my hearts limits, and instead go further than I had ever imagined. He has really, honestly blessed me in more ways than I even know how to count. Alright, enough mushy talk. Time to do something manly...

*flex* Yeah, that'll do.

Thoughts of randomnicity

2010-07-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

There she is, the Pearl of Africa. Jehovah has blessed me greatly and allowed me to serve in Uganda. Surrounded by more 'known' countries of Africa, Uganda is landlocked and full of green. This short blog is really just a journal of sorts, giving me time to get my thoughts together before I officially take the plunge. So, I can break it up into a few paragraphs explaining what is going on in my head so far. Read on if you care, close the window if you dont, its all good.
~Plan

I am leaving Alaska October 15th, and joining up with my good friends in Hudson, NY. (Its the 'A' on the map) I will be there for 5 days. I'm visiting Wallkill Bethel again. I cant wait to see how its changed since I served there.(Shout out to Hudson: "Hey everyone!")

Next stop after NY is London. Thats right, I am going to see Big Ben. A C.O. got me a place to stay, and they are going to get me a tour of the British Museum. What is great is that I get a tour by witnesses, for witnesses. I will also be sharing in the field ministry and attending the sunday meeting in London. That will be great fun! Time to brush up on my accents...

Then, finally, I end up in Africa. I will be gone from Alaska for a total of 6 months, and then I start my next adventure. But thats another story, another blog. For now, its time to focus on Africa. I will land in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. From there, I stay at the Uganda Bethel. They allow full time servants to stay for a few days, so I am going to try to take advantage of that. After using that time to adjust to the time switch, (11 hours different from Alaska, by the way.) I will leave for my final destination: Fort Portal.

Until then, I will continue to update my thoughts and what not. Its more for me, than for you, to be honest, but I dont mind you reading it. Nothing private is said here, so its all good!
One last thing before I go. It seems that everything has fallen perfectly into place. Jehovah has blessed me so much, and everything that I worried about he has fixed. Like a perfect game of Tetris. Well, I suppose you cant win Tetris, can you? Actually, maybe if you just max out the numbers, you could consider it 'beat', since you couldnt gain anymore points. Thats it, Jehovah has helped me max out my score in my efforts to Need Great. I love comparing life events to old school games. My brain seems to work that way, I guess. Well, anyways, thats it for now. I'll update again tomorrow, most likely. Thanks for reading!

"Humans have their eyes on the front of their head for a reason: To see the far horizon, to look to tomorrow. Never let yesterday hurt you anymore than it has, but instead let tomorrow give reason and hope. Always advance, always move to the horizon. With such a determination, we walk a path of the Skyline." ~A much appreciated friend.